PEEFACE. 



The object in preparing this book has been to present 

 to pupils in our schools and to students generally, in a 

 sufficiently condensed form, a comprehensive view of the 

 Vegetable Kingdom. This includes a general survey of 

 the organs of plants, their structure and functions, of the 

 classification of plants according to their supposed genetic 

 relationship, and, finally, of the uses of plants and the 

 application of botanical knowledge in the various pursuits 

 of life. It is not deemed necessary to apologize for pre- 

 senting the minute anatomy or histology of plants as seen 

 in the following pages, much less for devoting a separate 

 part of the work to a discussion of the commonest vege- 

 table products found in commerce, as regards their nature, 

 source, and uses. It is believed this new departure will 

 be welcomed by the great mass of intelligent educators of 

 our country, who think this science broad enough and 

 already sufficiently developed to meet the just demand 

 made upon it not only for something disciplinary and 

 pleasurable, but also for something useful. In case of 

 pupils who will afterward pursue collegiate courses of 



(V) 



